Sensible Dieting

Some of us eat to exercise, others exercise so they can eat. Whatever your motivation, if you run, bike, or perform some kind of endurance activity, you probably feel that you deserve to eat more. After all, you expend 300 - 1000 or more calories per day. Yet, to your surprise and frustration, you find that you consume no more calories than your sedentary friends. And when you try to lose weight, it may be harder for you.

This troublesome paradox can be explained by metabolic rates. Everyone has a basal metabolic rate, determined by age, weight, gender and genetics. This determines the bare minimum of calories necessary to keep you alive. Anything extra burns more calories and requires more energy. The paradox is that as the body becomes more accustomed to activity, it uses calories more efficiently.

As you train, you teach your body to get more from every calorie, lowering your metabolic rate and energy needs. Even worse, if you decrease your caloric intake, your body gets the message to use calories even more sparingly, making weight loss more difficult.

The solution is to avoid crash diets and maintain a consistent, regular diet.